Five Dhyani Buddhas - Qualities

Qualities

There is an expansive number of associations with each element of the mandala, so that the mandala becomes a cipher and mnemonic visual thinking instrument and concept map; a vehicle for understanding and decoding the whole of the Dharma. Some of the associations include:

Family/Buddha Colour ← Element → Symbolism Cardinality → Wisdom → Attachments → Gestures Means → Maladaptation to Stress Season
Buddha/Vairocana white ← space → wheel center → all accommodating → form → Teaching the Dharma Turning the Wheel of Dharma → ignorance n/a
Vajra/Akshobhya blue ← water → scepter, vajra east → nondualist → consciousness → humility protect, destroy → anger, hate spring
Padma/Amitābha red ← fire → lotus west → inquisitive → perception → meditation magnetize, subjugate → selfishness summer
Ratna/Ratnasambhava gold/yellow ← earth → jewel south → equanimous → feeling → giving enrich, increase → pride, greed autumn
Karma/Amoghasiddhi green ← air, wind → double vajras north → all accomplishing → mental formation, concept → fearlessness pacify → envy winter

The Five Wisdom Buddhas are protected by the Five Wisdom Kings, and in Japan are frequently depicted together in the Mandala of the Two Realms and are in the Shurangama Mantra revealed in the Shurangama Sutra. They each are often depicted with consorts, and preside over their own Pure Lands. In East Asia, the aspiration to be reborn in a pure land is the central point of Pure Land Buddhism. Although all five Buddhas have pure lands, it appears that only Sukhāvatī of Amitabha, and to a much lesser extent Abhirati of Akshobhya (where great masters like Vimalakirti and Milarepa are said to dwell) attracted aspirants.

Buddha (Skt) Consort Dhyani Bodhisattva Pure Land seed syllable
Vairocana White Tara or Dharmadhatvishvari Samantabhadra central pure land Akanistha Ghanavyuha Om
Akshobhya Locanā Vajrapāni eastern pure land Abhirati Hum
Amitābha Pandara Avalokiteshvara western pure land Sukhāvatī Hrih
Ratnasaṃbhava Mamaki Ratnapani southern pure land Shrimat Trah
Amoghasiddhi Green Tara Viśvapāni northern pure land Prakuta Ah

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